Originally published 2019-05-13.
Costumed runners on the vineyard roads of the Médoc, north of Bordeaux. Photos: AFP/Getty Images.
The Marathon du Médoc is a full 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon run through the wine estates north of Bordeaux, France, where most runners wear fancy dress and the course passes around two dozen wine-tasting stops, live bands and food stands serving oysters, steak, cheese and ice cream. It has been held every September since 1985, starts and finishes in the town of Pauillac, and is organized by a volunteer association that draws on thousands of local helpers.
It is still a real marathon. The official rules give runners 6 hours 30 minutes to finish, cap entries at 8,500 and require every participant to run in costume, with a new theme set each year. Runners from more than 50 countries take part, and places usually sell out fast.
The photos below follow the race from the vineyard roads to the refreshment tables, with notes on what each scene shows and what to know if you are tempted to sign up.
A route through famous vineyards
The course loops through the appellations of Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estèphe and the wider Médoc and Haut-Médoc, passing dozens of châteaux whose names appear on some of the world's most collected wine labels. Much of it follows narrow farm roads and gravel tracks between the vines.
Runners in hats, wigs and themed outfits stream along a lane between rows of vines. The flat terrain of the Médoc makes the scenery the main challenge, along with the late-summer heat. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.
Seen from above, the field forms a long ribbon of colour heading toward a château. With up to 8,500 entrants, the early kilometres can feel more like a parade than a race. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.
The pack passes a turreted château framed by vines. Many estates open their grounds to the race, and some run their own tasting stands. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.
A crowd of runners funnels through an estate gate near one of the region's landmark towers. Bottlenecks like this are part of the experience, so few people chase personal bests here. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.
Fancy dress is in the rules
Costume is not optional. The official regulations state that the race has to be run in fancy dress, and each edition usually announces a theme, from films and fairy tales to music or history. Prizes go to the best outfits, and groups often plan matching costumes months in advance.
A runner in a frilled maid's costume and tiara jogs past the vines and a classic château facade. Outfits have to survive 42 km, so lightweight fabric beats heavy props. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.
A runner in a Japanese happi coat leads a group along a tree-lined avenue. International entrants often wear costumes that nod to their home countries. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.
Superheroes, pirates and characters in tutus share the road. Some runners treat the day as a social outing and finish close to the cutoff. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.
Wine stops and food along the course
Alongside ordinary water stations, the route has around 23 wine stops, many run by the châteaux themselves. In the closing stretch, runners traditionally find oysters at about the 38 km mark and grilled steak at about 39 km, with cheese, fruit and ice cream at other points. Roughly 50 bands and orchestras play along the way.
A table set with rows of filled glasses and bottles awaits passing runners. Tasting portions are small, and most experienced participants sip rather than drink. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.
Costumed runners, including one dressed as Snow White, raise glasses at a refreshment stand. The tasting stops are where the race's party atmosphere is strongest. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.
Prizes paid in wine
The fastest man and woman each win their own body weight in Médoc wine, and category winners receive a case of fine wine, according to the race rules. Everyone who finishes within the time limit receives rewards on arrival, including bottles of wine that organizers ask runners not to open on site.
The winner, wearing bib number 1 and a festive crown, celebrates crossing the line. Elite runners do race this course seriously; the men's record of 2:19:20 dates from 1992. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.
Running it safely
A festive route does not shorten the distance. Late-summer temperatures in Bordeaux can be high, and alcohol increases fluid loss and slows reactions, so experienced participants treat the wine stops as small tastings and drink plenty of water between them. Entry rules require runners to be adults and to complete the French athletics federation's health-prevention check. Anyone with a heart condition or other health concern should talk to a doctor before training for any marathon.
Training matters too. Covering 42 km in under six and a half hours means a pace of about 9 minutes per kilometre, which is comfortable walking-and-jogging speed for a prepared runner but tough for someone starting from nothing.
Planning a trip to the Marathon du Médoc
The race is usually held on a Saturday in early September, shortly before the grape harvest. Registration opens months ahead and fills quickly, so check the official Marathon du Médoc website for dates, the year's theme and entry rules. Pauillac is about an hour's drive from Bordeaux, and accommodation nearby books up early.
For anyone who has ever found marathons too serious, this is the friendliest possible introduction: a long run, a costume, music on every corner and a landscape that wine lovers spend years hoping to see.
Sources: Marathon du Médoc official website; Marathon du Médoc official rules; Wikipedia: Marathon du Médoc. Photos: AFP/Getty Images.
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